ORIENTATION SESSION ISWEP: Laurier’s International

Student Work Experience Program

Career Development Centre

2014 -2015

Part 1: The Career Development Centre

What is the Career Development Centre?

wlu.ca/career

We serve all Laurier students:

all disciplines, all levels of study

We serve Laurier alumni, too!

The Career Centre offers:

- Inclusive programs and services for all Laurier students and alumni

- Customized, one-on-one appointments with knowledgeable staff

- Over 600 workshops and events each year, including tailored programming for diverse student groups

- An opportunity to earn the Career Development Certificate by attending all of our core workshops

Individual Appointments

Types available: • Career Planning • Assessment Debrief • Job Search Strategies • Resumé & Cover Letter Critiques • Interview Coaching or Practice

Times available: • Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. • Tuesdays until 7 p.m. • Note: each student can have a maximum of 5

appointments per academic year

Other Services

Resumé Proofreading Service

• Available only after a Resumé Feedback appointment

• 24 hour turnaround (business day)

• tking@wlu.ca

Career Resource Centre

• Computers and printer

• Directories, career-related books & periodicals

• Employer & Further Education guidebooks

For International Students, the Career Centre offers:

- a dedicated Career Consultant who focusses on meeting the needs of international students

- one-on-one appointments and tailored workshops

- drop-in appointments (in Laurier International)

- website resources related to career development

- resumé writing, interview skills and job search assistance in Canada and other countries

- assistance in learning about volunteer opportunities

Part 2: ISWEP

Learning Outcomes

• Become aware goals and procedures of ISWEP

• Understand the importance of preparing a cover letter, a resumé and your interview skills for the Canadian job search

• Recognize an overview of the Canadian employers’ expectations

• Become aware of the career development resources available at the Career Centre

Do you ever feel this way?

You can break the cycle! Let’s talk about one way to get experience…

What is the International Student Work Experience Program?

• ISWEP is an on-campus work experience program for international students at Laurier.

• Goals:

– Create opportunities for international students to gain work experience on campus

– Benefit the Laurier community with the global perspectives of our diverse international students

• Up to 25 jobs will be created in Waterloo in Brantford. Only international students may apply.

• The jobs will be posted in Navigator on Sept 2

Am I eligible for ISWEP?

• To be approved for ISWEP, students must fulfill the requirements listed below: – Undergraduate, international student – Valid study permit – Registered as a full-time student (W or BR) – Completed at least two full semesters at Laurier – Good academic standing according to your program – Must attend an orientation session

• Completion of the 'Career Development Certificate' is strongly recommended (see online workshop listing)

What is the ISWEP approval process?

1 • Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria

2

• Complete the ISWEP online Approval Form and upload your valid study permit

3

• Deadline for online Approval Form is September 18, 2014 at 4:30 p.m.

4

• Students will receive a confirmation email and ISWEP Eligibility Confirmation (YES or NO).

5 • If YES, students can apply directly to jobs in Navigator

What is the job application process?

1

• View the job postings in Navigator and decide which you wish you apply to

2

• Customize your resumé & cover letter for each posting

3

• Send your resumé & cover letter to the email address in the posting

4

• Prepare for an interview (bring your ISWEP Eligibility Confirmation to your interview)

How do I find the ISWEP job postings?

Login to Navigator

Click on ‘Job Postings’

Click on ‘Search Job Postings’

What are the ISWEP job titles?

2014 – 2015 job titles will be posted on September 2.

The 2013 - 2014 job titles included: • Director's Office Student Assistant (Brantford)

• ICT Support Student (Brantford)

• Student Administrative Assistant (Brantford)

• Recruitment & Admissions Assistant (Brantford)

• Student Assistant (Waterloo)

• Front Desk Reception (Waterloo)

• Access Services Assistant (Waterloo)

• Library Research Mentor for International Students (Waterloo)

• Student Service Desk Analyst (Waterloo)

• MyHelpSpace Media Developer Assistant (Waterloo)

• Arts International Initiatives Researcher (Waterloo)

• Recruitment & Admissions Assistant (Waterloo)

• Clerical Assistant(Waterloo)

Part 3: Preparing your application

I have the job posting, but what do I do with it?!!!

How do I decode a job posting?

1. Print the job posting

2. Get your highlighter ready!

3. What skills is the employer looking for? – Highlight the job posting and make a list

– These are critical for your resumé and interview

4. How can you demonstrate that you have those skills? How do you meet the criteria? – Make a list of your past work experiences,

volunteer, coursework, etc.

– Make a list of your accomplishments

TIP: Create a Resumé Preparation Chart

Job Requirements

Your Experience Your Accomplishments

Solid communication skills

Business course group member

Led the finance portion of the group project

Restaurant server Served up to 50 diverse customers per night in a professional way

Student club member Collaborated with other members to create an on-campus event

EXERCISE: Complete the chart for ONE more job requirement:

Job Requirements Your Experience

Your Accomplishments

• Solid communication skills • Proficient in English • Organization skills • Social media skills • Computer skills • Initiative skills • Teamwork • Work independently • Attention to detail • Problem solving • Research skills • Customer service skills

Your Resumé Advertises YOU

What is the best resumé?

= A targeted resumé

Use information from the job posting and from your research to

customize your resumé to the job.

Canadian Resumés do NOT include:

• Date of birth

• Marital/Family Status

• Disability information

• Country of Origin/Citizenship

• Ethnic background

• Religion

• Gender

Quick Resumé Tips • Your resumé should be 1-2 pages long

• Use your legal name; include your preferred ‘English’ name if applicable

• Include all of your experience including your experience from outside of Canada

• Demonstrate key achievements rather than your tasks and duties

• Proofread for spelling, grammar and accuracy before distributing your resumés

Additional resources for you:

• Resumé Writing workshops

• Individual appointments (after attending a workshop)

• Books and other resources

Part 4: Preparing for your interview

The Job Interview

Interview tips

• Before – Think about your skills and experiences – Learn about the department/position (Hint: read

their website!) – Prepare your answers

• During – Smile! Be yourself – Dress nicely in business casual clothes (no jeans) – Be ready for common questions

• After – Send a thank you email/card

Fact:

Practice increases confidence.

To book an interview coaching

or a practice interview appointment

with a Career Consultant call

519.884.0710 x4495

Part 5: Workplace Culture

Quick tips for the Canadian Workplace

• Say hello to people you meet

• Put your cell phone away! (even if your manager is using hers)

• Show initiative and ask questions

• Smile!

• Learn the department’s culture– there is not one culture (for example, the Library’s culture is very different from the Career Centre’s)

Understand what skills employers are looking for

Job seekers and employers identify

• Positive attitude, communication skills and a strong work ethic as the most highly valued soft skills

• Employers put much more emphasis on the importance of communications skills than job seekers (27% vs. 17% respectively).

Source: Workopolis: Mind the Gap 2012

Tips from other international students

“It was great working this summer… I would say: be open with the people who are working around you and don't be nervous! Especially for international students!”

Tips from other international students

I would advise students to understand the skills required for a job and why that particular skill is needed. They can then articulate how they have demonstrated those skills through their experiences, and how they plan to use it to meet the goals of the organization.

Tips from other international students

“1. Take initiative In Canada, this is generally considered to be a good quality. I learned to initiate conversations with my supervisor, ask for assignments, and get feedback from her.

2. Asking for clarification is better than saying sorry. In Canadian culture, it is fine to politely request the supervisor to repeat the command if you do not understand something or if you get lost. "

3. Get regular feedback from your supervisor” To read more, click here

New to the Canadian Workplace?

Let’s Talk! Success Strategies for Transitioning to

the Canadian Workplace 12 noon – 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 10 Career Development Centre 192 King St N, Waterloo

Registration now open: www.wlu.ca/career

Part 6: Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)

about ISWEP

Additional Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What jobs are available?

– The jobs will be posted on September 2, 2014. Please see the website for samples of last year’s jobs.

• Can domestic students apply to these jobs?

– No.

• What does a Canadian resumé look like?

– See the Career Centre’s resumé resources for information and samples.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What skills are important? Do I have them?

– See the job postings to learn what skills the employers are looking for. Employers commonly look for skills such as a positive attitude, communication skills, strong work ethic, customer service skills and teamwork

(Source: http://www.workopolis.com/content/advice/article/what-canadian-employers-are-most-looking-for-in-candidates/)

• Is my English good enough?

– Good question. If you’re not ready, consider opportunities to practice such as volunteering or a club

• Will you write my resumé?

– No!! But I can help you to learn to do it

What if I don’t get an ISWEP job? What else can I do to gain experience? • Other on-campus opportunities

– Food Services, Library, IT Help Desk, Learning Services, etc.

• Off-campus opportunities

• Volunteering resources

• Join a club

Be strategic about

the activities you select

Final word…

Career Resources

• Book an individual appointment at x4495 - in-person, telephone, email or Skype

• Resumé & Cover Letter proofreading service • For quick questions, visit our drop-in hours

(Monday to Thursdays, 1 – 3 p.m.) • Visit wlu.ca/career to access - Career Workshops - Resumé and Interview Guidebooks - Schedule of Career and Employer Events

Connect With Us!

Jessie Eulenberg 519.884.0710 x4495 careercentre@wlu.ca wlu.ca/career facebook.com/lauriercareercentre lauriercareercentre.wordpress.com linkedin.com (Laurier Career Centre group)